Monday, 20 December 2010

Christmas Car Walks

During the period Saturday, 25th December, 2010 through Sunday, 2nd January, 2011, Stockton Rambling Club will be holding a series of car walks. These will not be longer than 8 miles and will be at C pace. All of the walks will start at 10.00 am from the designated start point. Details of the wallks are given below.

Monday, 13 December 2010

Venturing out in the Snow - Swainby Snow Scenes

Sadly, the SRC has had to cancel a number of Sunday and mid-week walks during the last couple of weeks. This action was taken as a result of the adverse weather conditions - involving considerable snow and very icy roads and footaths.

Next week (19th December) will be the last three-walk Sunday event on the 2010 walks programme - if it is not cancelled! As leader of the A-Walk on that day, I decided to venture up onto the North York Moors just above Swainby in order to see what the conditions might be like next Sunday.

I had a hard, but interesting couple of hours walking in the snow and mist as I made my way from the village of Swainby up onto Whorlton Moor in order to reach Swainby Shooting House. The return trip was a little easier than the outward journey since it did not involve any climbing.

Sunday Walking to Carlton

Weather permitting, on Sunday, 19th December, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the south-western area of the North York Moors. All walks will finish in Carlton {NZ 508 043} - see the following map.

Sunday, 12 December 2010

A-Walking: Piercebridge Plodder

Our three expeditions this week (Sunday, 21st November) each took place in the Darlington area of County Durham. Both the A-Walk and the B-Walk set off from Salters Lane in Darlington while the C-Walk commenced at Hurworth-on-Tees. All three walks finished at Piercebridge.

We left our drop-off point at about 10.00 am. There were seven people in the group: PB, RB, MH, CL, KL, LM and JT. PB led the walk.

Our coach dropped us off on Salters Lane near the factories on Firth Moor {NZ 313 137}. From here we headed in a southerly direction to cross the railway track at {NZ 312 129} and the A66(T) road at {NZ 312 128}. At {NZ 312 126}, we turned left and headed in an easterly direction across Hurworth Moor to reach East Flat Plantation {NZ 322 124}.

Now following a good track in a south-easterly direction, we made our way to Low Maidendale Farm {NZ 324 120}. Turning right onto a south-westerly bearing, we trekked along a field track to reach Neasham Springs {NZ 320 113} and Spring Cottage {NZ 316 107}. Turning left along Neasham Road, we headed in a south-easterly direction to the road junction at {NZ 322 101} where we joined the Teesdale Way (TW). We followed this in a westerly direction to reach the eastern edge of Hurworth-on-Tees {NZ 310 101}.

We crossed the River Tees using Low Hail Bridge and followed the farm access track in a southerly direction. We encountered substantial volumes of mud as we plodded through Low Hail Farm at {NZ 308 096}.

Continuing on a south-easterly bearing, we made our way to the minor road (Eryholme Lane) at {NZ 317 085}. After turning right, we followed the lane to {NZ 312 083} where we joined a public footpath. This took us in a westerly direction along the southern edge of Holmes Plantation) and Dalton Wood) to reach a track at {NZ 294 085}. We stopped here for a short lunch-break.

From our lunch-stop location, we continued in a north-north-westerly direction along a good path through Spoilbank Wood) to reach the railway bridge at {NZ 290 090} where we joined the A167 road (Crofts Road). We followed this in a northerly direction into Croft-on-Tees {NZ 288 098} where we re-joined the Teesdale Way. We trekked along the TW in a westerly direction to the small village of Stapleton {NZ 264 120}. Turning left at {NZ 263 123} we followed a minor road that passed under the A66(M) motorway. Leaving the road at {NZ 256 126} we followed a quarry access track in a north-easterly direction to {NZ 257 128} and then turned onto a north-north-westerly bearing to reach a lake at {NZ 255 130}. We now followed a public footpath along the southern edge of the lake in order to reach Cleasby {NZ 251 130}. We stopped here for a short tea-stop - taking advantage of the bus-shelter at {NZ 251 130} in order to avoid the rain.

After passing through the village, we headed north to reach the River Tees at {NZ 248 134}. Turning onto a west-south-westerly bearing, we followed a public footpath that took us under the A1(M) motorway at {NZ 246 133} in order to reach Manfield Scar) {NZ 232 136}. Continuing in a north-westerly direction, we navigated a route to Holme House) {NZ 220 150} and the B6275 road at {NZ 213 153}. Turning right along the road we made our way to Piercebridge. After passing The George hostelry on our right, we crossed the River Tees using the road bridge at {NZ 211 155}.

From the bridge, we followed the public footpath (on the eastern side of the village) in a northerly direction and made our way to the Carlbury Arms hostelry where our coach was waiting to pick us up.

Despite the inclement conditions, we had an interesting and exciting expedition today - even though, as a result of the heavy rain, in many locations we had to plod through muddy fields and farmyards.

Use the buttons below to see where we went, how we did and some of the photos that we took.

Thursday, 9 December 2010

Mid-December Mid-Week Walking(2010-12-15)

Weather permitting, on Wednesday, 15th December, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Greatham area of Teesside. Please meet at 10.30 am in Greatham High Street {NZ 492 276} - see the following map.